Motoya Nakamura /The OregonianWearing a customary gray suit with no tie, Tom Miller leads a morning meeting with the mayor's office staff in mid-December, before his move to take over leadership of the city Transportation Bureau. Miller was Sam Adams' right-hand man serving as chief of staff in both Adams commissioner's and mayor's offices for years until Adams tapped him for his new job last month.

Tom Miller, Portland's new transportation director, had a message for employees during his first week on the job.

Standing in front of about 200 Bureau of Transportation employees in late January, Miller explained that the city already has been thinking less automobile-centric. That's commendable, Miller said, but those efforts are just the beginning of his vision to provide Portland residents with what he calls "true choice" about how they commute -- from more bike lanes to new sidewalks and more frequent transit service.

"I hope to do more of it," Miller remembers as his message, "and I hope to do it faster."

Such ambition is nothing new for Miller, who was a campaign volunteer in 2004 before Sam Adams twice tapped him as chief of staff -- when Adams became a city commissioner and when he became mayor.

Last month, Adams proved his confidence in Miller, 38, by appointing him to lead a bureau with about 750 employees and a $250 million annual budget.

If Miller makes good on his vision, he could help reshape Portland for generations:

"I hope to and expect to use the contributions of transportation in the city of Portland to make Portland the most sustainable city in the world, or at least the country," he said this week.

Miller's promotion comes after years in the mayor's shadow as Adams' right-hand man, supervising a staff of about two dozen. In that role, Miller gained a reputation as smart, innovative and personable -- yet sometimes frank to the point of abrasive, with questions about whether he was working from the same playbook as Adams.

His rough edges came into focus when a testy e-mail exchange between him and Marissa Madrigal, Multnomah County Chairman Jeff Cogen's chief of staff, about the Sellwood Bridge replacement became public in September.

But Adams, in announcing his decision Jan. 7, said Miller understands his thinking and passion, and was the only choice for the job. Miller replaces Sue Keil, who retires May 1. Miller moved last month into the Transportation Bureau's home at the Portland Building and will work with Keil until she leaves.

"I think he's uniquely qualified to continue the improvement, build on the improvements that have been accomplished in the last 5 1/2 years with Sue," Adams said. "Someone who is smart, a hard worker, not afraid to question his boss or the status quo. And understands the importance of transportation, but also understands that transportation has to be in service to more important goals."

Phoenix imprint

Miller's interest in transportation can be traced to Phoenix, Ariz., where he grew up.

The desert city and its suburbs are built for cars. But Miller has always taken to alternative transportation -- first for fun, then to commute.

Miller began skateboarding at age 5 and later rode BMX bikes. By the time he landed in Portland 20 years later, to study law at Lewis & Clark College, he realized urban livability starts with protecting and enhancing what exists.

Miller co-founded Skaters for Portland Skateparks, which played a big role in the reopening of Pier Park's skate park in 2006 and in the construction of four other city skate parks.

At the same time, Miller has adopted bicycling as his preferred method of transportation. At his old City Hall office, Miller kept a map of transit-friendly Amsterdam posted above his computer as a reminder of smart planning.

Miller regularly bikes to work downtown from his Southeast Portland home, towing his daughter and dropping her off at school. He drives the family's diesel Jetta only when necessary.

"He's the real bike brains in that office, for sure," Jonathan Maus, who publishes bikeportland.org, said of Miller's time working for Adams.

Miller also has an adventurous streak. While studying at the University of Colorado at Boulder -- pursuing a triple major in environmental studies, geography and international affairs -- Miller tired of textbooks. He spent a year and a half in Costa Rica so he could better learn Spanish and another time decided to hitchhike to the Panama Canal for the experience.

Miller said the backstory on his new job began when Adams won his mayoral bid in 2008. Miller said he told Adams he didn't want to commit to being chief of staff beyond two more years, knowing he wanted a new challenge.

After about a year, realizing Keil would retire before long, Miller said he floated his hope to head the Transportation Bureau.

"I said, 'Hey, what do you think about this?'" Miller said. "And he was supportive right away."

Now Miller wants to ensure that Portland in coming decades builds a comprehensive transportation grid that gives residents true commuting choices. In essence, he'd like to see every resident have convenient access to mass transit and bike lanes, so Portlanders aren't left thinking a car is the only viable option for getting around town.

The long-term challenge will be funding, now tied heavily to gas taxes. The bureau's efforts to promote alternative transportation will only erode that by pulling people away from cars.

"There's a disconnect there, obviously, that needs to be addressed," Miller said.

What will city transportation look like years down the road if Miller has his way?

It will include more "bike boulevards," where bicycling -- not auto traffic -- is encouraged. More bike lanes in general. Sidewalks where none exist now.

It will include collaboration with agencies such as TriMet to ensure new rail lines. More bus lines with frequent service, with residents comfortable waiting because they know the next bus is only a few minutes away.

As for car travel, Miller said the focus needs to be on improving safety, not increasing capacity. Exceptions, he said, are easing freight shipments and building roads tied to employment areas.

But even those improvements would be about providing more choice.

"I'm talking about real choice, the same way you go to the supermarket and look at the cereal aisle," Miller said. "That's what Portland needs."